Saturday Fulham Stuff - 16/04/22...

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Results

Good Friday
Luton	1-0	Forest
Hull	2-1	Cardiff
Swansea	1-1	Barnsley
Birmingham	2-4	Coventry
Bournemouth	0-0	M'borough
P'borough	2-1	Blackburn
Preston NE	1-1	Millwall
Sheff Utd	1-2	Reading
Stoke	0-1	Bristol City
West Brom	2-1	Blackpool
Huddersfield	2-2	QPR
Derby	2-1	Fulham

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Derby County 2-1 Fulham

Tosin Adarabioyo got the final touch as he diverted the ball into his own net for Derby's winner

Derby County brought an abrupt halt to Fulham's Premier League promotion party as they came from behind to claim a crucial victory that kept their own faint hopes of avoiding relegation alive.

Fulham were on track for the win that would have secured an immediate top-flight return with five games to spare thanks to Fabio Carvalho's well-taken opener.

But 19-year-old Luke Plange brought the hosts level five minutes into the second period before Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo turned Tom Lawrence's cross-shot into his own net.

Realistically, the result is unlikely to change the narrative of the campaign given Fulham still only require three points for promotion and a single defeat in the Rams' final four games will leave Reading requiring just a point to send Derby down.

But, in front of prospective new owner Chris Kirchner, the result underlined the fight that remains in a club that should, over the next couple of weeks, provide manager Wayne Rooney with some much-needed stability to build for the future.

Successive defeats for the first time this season is a major disappointment for Fulham - and this loss will hurt because for 45 minutes it looked so unlikely.

Without ever being at their best, Marco Silva's men had too much for their hosts.

Carvalho's finish at the end of a one-two with Bobby Decordova-Reid showed why Jurgen Klopp is keen to get the Portuguese youngster to Liverpool, and he would have had two but for Ryan Allsop's excellent save.

Allsop denied 38-goal Aleksandar Mitrovic with a flying save after half-time and the Serb had a goal disallowed for offside as he tucked home the rebound to a Carvalho effort that struck the base of a post.

By that point, Derby had equalised when Plange finished off a flowing move that also included home-grown pair Liam Thompson and Lee Buchanan.

There was an element of fortune about Derby's winner but Plange deserves credit for putting Tosin under pressure.

In a frenetic finale, Malcolm Ebiowei tested Marek Rodak with a long-range drive before Harrison Reid had an injury-time shot deflected over as Derby remained defiant to secure a memorable triumph.

Derby County manager Wayne Rooney:
"We knew it would be a tough game, but I believed we would win.

"When I saw Reading score in the last minute (to win at Sheffield United), you are worried young players were watching that and it would take energy out of them.

"But I felt at half-time if we had more belief, we would win. The character of the players is incredible to go out and get the two goals.

"We pressed a bit higher and they really struggled with that. Liam Thompson was magnificent. It was a must-win, thankfully we have done that.

"I want my team to be a reflection of myself. I can see in the players eyes, at half-time in many games this season, they look a bit down.

"The mentality is the thing I am most proud of. That is the hardest thing to teach.

"But we have to change the away form if we are to have a chance of staying up. It will be a tough game (at QPR), but we have to win."

Fulham manager Marco Silva:
"Our first-half was good and in the second-half, we expected a reaction and it was important for us to control the game and we made a mistake.

"We had chances to win. We are at the top of this league for a reason but we lost our focus. We have to improve.

"Back-to-back defeats for the first time this season, that is not a matter of focus. Tonight we needed to be more aggressive. We had to stop attacks with tactical fouls.

"We knew before the match it would be emotional. We knew what would happen with three points. Derby's pressure is much tougher. Our pressure is the nicest pressure.

"But if we want to play in the Premier League, we have to deal with pressure."



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61033751

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Derby 2-1 Fulham

Fulham missed out on the chance of a Good Friday promotion to the Premier League, as Derby overcame a 1-0 deficit to grab a hugely important three points.

Fabio Carvalho put the Whites ahead 20 minutes in with a neat finish, before Luke Plange and an own goal turned it around for the Rams.

With Nottingham Forest losing 1-0 to Luton Town earlier in the day all eyes were on Fulham, knowing that a victory over Derby would now seal automatic promotion back to the top flight.

Marco Silva made three swaps from the Coventry defeat as Joe Bryan, Bobby De Cordova-Reid and captain Tom Cairney came back into the starting XI, with Antonee Robinson, Nathaniel Chalobah and Neeskens Kebano dropping to the bench.

Pride Park was bouncing with noise from both sets of supporters on this massive occasion, and both teams got off to an appropriately energetic start with sighters on goal at both ends in the opening five minutes.

First, Jason Knight rose highest to latch onto the end of a cross from the right, but his header was tame for Marek Rodák. Then, going the other way, Carvalho broke through the lines as a result of a sloppy Derby pass. His shot was blocked before Harry Wilson managed to shoot on the spin, but it skimmed just wide.

Tom Lawrence was next to have a crack. After a blistering breakaway from Malcolm Ebiowei down the right, the Rams' captain got possession 30 yards out centrally and decided to shoot, but it was catching practice again for Rodák.

Bobby De Cordova-Reid went close to opening the scoring just before the 20-minute mark after some free-flowing Fulham football. A series of passes culminated in Cairney picking up the ball and curling one into the path of De Cordova-Reid but, after cutting inside sharply, he sent his shot over.

A few minutes later and the Whites did take the lead with our Jamaican international involved again. This time he was provider and slotted a lovely ball into the box for Carvalho, who did the rest, driving towards goal before popping it over Ryan Allsop and into the net.

Carvalho was finding plenty of joy in behind enemy lines and went close again moments later. It all started with a beautiful ball into the path of Wilson from Cairney, before our Welsh wizard squared it into the mixer. It eventually found our youngster, whose attempted volley on the edge of the box flicked off the head of Aleksandar Mitrović and over.

Our Portuguese star boy was having plenty of the ball and had another go just before the interval. Finding a pocket of space down the middle, he controlled De Cordova-Reid's pass on the spin and shot towards the target, requiring a firm block to avert the danger.

The Rams started the second half in a rapid manner and levelled the scoring five minutes after the restart. Going from back to front in no time, the ball was eventually whipped into the middle from the left, and Plange made no mistake to covert from close range.

The response was strong from Fulham, who were doing everything they could to secure the three points and promotion that would come with it. Some neat interplay between Cairney, Wilson and Neco Williams down the right resulted in the latter bending in a cross towards Mitro, who outmuscled his marker to get to the ball but headed into the hands of Allsop in the end.

Five minutes later and Mitro found some better connection with another header. From a free kick won by Williams, Harrison Reed swung one into the box for our striker, who had peeled off the crowd to find some space. His header was direct and powerful, but Allsop was there again to save with a flying stop.

Mitro was licking his lips now anticipating a goal, and would've got one if not for an offside call. After Carvalho's shot ricocheted back off the post following a deflection, our big man tapped home into an empty net, only for the flag to be raised.

With just over quarter-of-an-hour to play, the place erupted as Derby went ahead. Nathan Byrne's acrobatic flick worked wonders to keep an attack alive, before Lawrence's cross caused mayhem in the middle, with Tosin eventually stabbing into his own net under firm pressure from Plange.

After a mix-up at the back, Derby came close to adding a third in the closing stages. Ebiowei dummied his shot to good effect before unleashing one at Rodák, who clawed away with a firm hand.

There was a chance too for Fulham at the death. Substitute, Rodrigo Muniz, went close but Allsop lived up to his name to keep our Brazillian out with a couple of pokes at goal.

In the end Fulham were condemned to be patient in their quest for promotion, with a chance to seal the deal on Tuesday night at home to Preston.

Derby: Allsop, Byrne, Davies, Buchanan, Cashin, Lawrence, Ebiowei (Richards 97'), Bielik (Sibley 84'), Thompson (Ebosele 72'), Knight, Plange

Subs: Roos, Sibley, Cybulski, Richards, Ebosele, Forsyth, Stearman

Fulham FC: Rodák, Adarabioyo, Ream, Williams (Rodrigo Muniz 81'), Bryan, Wilson (Kebano 72'), Reed, Cairney (Seri 72'), De Cordova-Reid, Carvalho, Aleksandar Mitrovic

Subs: Gazzaniga, Kebano, Chalobah, Antonee Robinson, Rodrigo Muniz, Seri, Hector



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2022/april/15/derby-2-1-fulham/

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Derby 2-1 Fulham: Wayne Rooney's side halt their opponents' Premier League promotion party as the struggling Rams produce a superb second-half comeback to keep their faint hopes of survival alive

    Fulham took the lead in the first half as Fabio Carvalho finished a fine team move
    Derby hit back through Luke Plange and a Tosin Adarabioyo own goal
    The result leaves Derby with a slim chance of avoiding relegation this season
    Meanwhile, Fulham did not get the win they needed to seal promotion

Wayne Rooney's defiant Derby delayed Fulham's promotion party in a tale of two teenagers at Pride Park as the Rams' prospective new owner Chris Kirchner looked on.

Marco Silva thought the Londoners were on the way to clinching a return to the Premier League when Liverpool target Fabio Carvalho put the visitors ahead after 20 minutes.

But Rooney's young side never gave up despite being on the brink of relegation and levelled in the second half through Luke Plange before a Toisin Adarabioyo own goal completed their comeback.


Derby completed their comeback in the 74th minute to keep their survival hopes alive

The Arsenal youth produce levelled after 51 minutes and then forced Adarabioyo to turn in a mis-hit shot by Tom Lawrence for an emotional winner.

Fulham can still confirm their return to the top flight by beating Preston on Tuesday but Silva's men are wobbling to get over the line having also lost their previous game at home to Coventry.

Nottingham Forest's defeat by Luton earlier on Good Friday had given the Cottagers their opportunity to secure promotion.

Their mood contrasted with Derby who had moved closer to the brink after seeing their rivals at the bottom Reading and Peterborough both win.

But Rooney's side started on the front foot with Lawrence dribbling past three defenders and Jason Knight sending a header at Marek Rodak.

Lawrence then sent another long-range sighter into the goalkeeper's stomach.

Derby have anticipated relegation ever since they were deducted 21 points for breaches of EFL rules and going into administration but with the end nigh, their fans belted out a rousing rendition of 'Derby 'til I die'.

Harrison Reed's strike flew wide for Fulham's only attempt of the opening 15 minutes, but Silva's side have so much quality that once they hit their strides for the first time, they scored.

A neat combination of passes left Carvalho on the edge of the box where he exchanged a one-two with Bobby Decordova-Reid and accelerated away from Krystian Bielik before finding the corner of the net from eight yards. Carvalho, 19 is out of contract this summer and tipped to move to Anfield.

Top scorer Aleksandr Mitrovic could have added a second but took a poor touch when Harry Wilson found him in front of goal.

Wilson then tried to head over Ryan Allsop but the ball hit his shoulder and arrived in the Derby goalkeeper's arms. Carvalho should have made it 2-0 before half-time but his finish was too close to Allsop who saved.

Derby were rewarded for their fighting spirit with a deserved equaliser after 51 minutes. Left back Lee Buchanan produced an excellent cross which Plange pressured Adarabioyo into turning in from close range.


Fabio Carvalho had put Fulham in front in the first half at Pride Park on Friday night


Carvalho hit the post in the second half on a frustrating evening for Fulham

Mitrovic sent a header too close to Allsop as Fulham tried to respond, and then the Derby goalkeeper was equal to the 38-goal Serb's next effort with a great leap to his right.

When Carvalho's shot then hit the post, Mitrovic tapped in the rebound and shouted at the assistant in horror as he was flagged offside.

Fulham have been either promoted or relegated in each of the last four seasons but are making hard work of a fifth change of division. Derby are still odds-on for the drop but are showing incredible will to survive.


Marco Silva's team will have to wait a little longer for promotion to the Premier League



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-10722785/Derby-beat-Fulham-Championship-survival-hopes-alive.html

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Fulham miss chance to seal Premier League promotion as shock defeat hands Derby hope in survival bid

Fulham missed the chance to confirm instant promotion back to the Premier League after suffering a shock defeat at Derby, who kept their slim Championship survival hopes alive.

After Nottingham Forest were beaten at Luton earlier on Good Friday, Marco Silva's runaway leaders headed to the iPro Stadium for an evening kick-off knowing that victory would rubber-stamp their immediate return to the top-flight with five matches to spare.

And prolific Fulham looked to be firmly on course to begin their promotion party, with Fabio Carvalho beating Derby goalkeeper Ryan Allsop just before the 20-minute mark after fine interplay with Bobby Decordova-Reid finished off a typically incisive passing move.

The Portuguese winger is expected to join Liverpool when his contract expires this summer, with Shakhtar Donetsk's Israeli international Manor Solomon lined up as his replacement in a £7million transfer.

However, Wayne Rooney's Derby hit back after the interval, with Crystal Palace loanee Luke Plange enjoying a starring role as he provided an initial close-range finish before forcing Tosin Adarabioyo into a decisive own goal 17 minutes from time.

Fulham thought they had got back in front when record-breaking top scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic slotted home at 1-1, only for the Serbian striker to be quickly denied by the offside flag.

Other results could see the Cottagers promoted by the time they host Preston in their next fixture at Craven Cottage on Tuesday night.

Meanwhile, an unlikely victory sees Derby rise from bottom to 22nd and level on points with Peterborough, who beat Blackburn earlier in the day.

Both sides are nine points adrift of safety with four games left to play after Reading secured a last-gasp win over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/derby-vs-fulham-result-championship-2022-b994627.html

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Fulham's promotion party delayed by defeat at Derby

Fulham's promotion party was put on hold as Derby came from behind to beat them at Pride Park.

Fabio Carvalho put the runaway Championship leaders ahead but the Rams hit back in the second half, with Luke Plange equalising before an own goal by Tosin Adarabioyo.

Nottingham Forest losing at Luton earlier in the day meant a win would have sealed Fulham's return to the top flight.

Carvalho gave them the lead by slotting keeper Ryan Allsop after a one-two with Bobby De Cordova-Reid.

But Plange levelled from close range after being set up by Lee Buchannan's low ball in from the left.

And Derby went ahead when Tosin tried to stop Plange diverting Tom Lawrence's wayward shot into the net but inadvertently helped the ball in himself.

Fulham can now seal promotion in front of their home fans on Tuesday against Preston.

Fulham: Rodak, Williams (Muniz 81), Tosin, Ream, Bryan, Reed, Cairney (Seri 72), Wilson (Kebano 72), Carvalho, De Cordova-Reid, Mitrovic.



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/fulhams-promotion-party-delayed-by-defeat-at-derby